Summary
Churches across the U.S. are grappling with dwindling attendance and financial instability, forcing many to close or sell properties.
The Diocese of Buffalo has shut down 100 parishes since the 2000s and plans to close 70 more. Nationwide, church membership has dropped from 80% in the 1940s to 45% today.
Some churches repurpose their land to survive, like Atlanta’s First United Methodist Church, which is building affordable housing.
Others, like Calcium Church in New York, make cutbacks to stay open. Leaders warn of the long-term risks of declining community and support for churches.
It didn’t use to be. I remember most churches on the 80s had a message of, “try to be a good person” and then everyone would hang out and chat. Pretty chill space. Can’t stand going to any churches now.
I guess you were never guilt tripped after being forced to watch Hell’s Bells.
Also, Chick Tracts were huge in the 80’s and those are not “chill and be a good person” kind of things. Nor is slut shaming. I could go on.
Chick tracts are still around. Someone left this awful one on my car last year after this latest war in Israel and Palestine started up. The short version is it starts with environmental disaster fears over pollution and food shortages and ends with needing a world war against Israel to bring Jesus back from the dead to save our souls.
https://dn790008.ca.archive.org/0/items/chick-tracts/chick tracts/End times/The Great Escape!_text.pdf